Thursday, May 13, 2010

There are those amazing gardening moments when you just have to pinch yourself for being at the right time and the right place to find amazing plant deals, and boy do I mean deals!

A gardening acquaintance of mine grows these amazing Proteas and Leucadendrons in the South Part of Hawaii Island to sell their amazing and exotic flowers. Recently, his whole district has been receiving alot of damaging vog (volcanic emissions) which affects the leaves and renders the flowers unable to sell, so he has been starting to liquidate his smaller potted plant stock.
Everything you see here are gallon size containers and he was selling these only for a buck apiece. Usually in the mainland, these easy go for $20 apiece.

I just had to grab his last leptospermum and it was just starting its bloom cycle which should easily last a few weeks.

There were no labels on this plant, I’m guessing that it could be a Leucadendron Safari Sunset. What do you think this is?

Now this I know is the King Protea Cynaroides, I’m looking forward to seeing these
with their gigantic blooms, but I’m sure that is a quite few years down the road.

Here’s another unmarked plant which I think is a Grevillea…anyone know which variety this could be?

Here’s a Leucadendron with reddish leaves, also no clue about the variety.

I’m still pinching myself and looking forward to putting these in the ground, although
I haven’t decided where these will go since they all take up a lot of space. Its always
a good day when I can find a good garden bargain like these!

Wow, what a deal! I love plant bargains too, only I hardly can find any here! Those are very exotic looking plants for me! Have fun with your new plants. Best luck to find perfect spot for them in your garden!

Just like me Noel you know a bargain when you see one. Years ago I was given 3 protea's free of charge - I honestly did not have the room for them in the house so I gave them to a gardening neighbour. Over in the UK you can pay around 30 pounds for one of those.

How fun to learn a new word! I'd never heard of vog. I guess it's not such a fun phenomenon, though. Great find on those plants! I love deals like that. You can't NOT buy them at those prices. Can't say I know much about those plants, but they are beautiful and very tropical looking.

WOW!! Aren't you the lucky one!! I can hear you doing the Happy Dance all the way here in Jersey! hahaha !:) Really , how great is that! Also loved the trip to the Farmer's Market the food looks sooo good! Especially the crepes with the shrimp & avocado, boy could I go for some of that right now!! Now that you made me hungry haha , you have a great weekend! I got to go find something to eat .......

I love a good plant bargain. The only problem is sometimes the bargains have lost their labels by the time they have been relegated to bargain status, so I have quite a few plants that are unknown cultivars. Your plants are gorgeous! I hope they grow well. I have to admit, among the potential problems in my garden, I have never considered volcanic ash!

Oh Nicole you KILL me! These are spectacular plants you got for a SONG!!! Lucky lucky lucky! I'll say it again - LUCKY!!! I want some!

I can't wait to visit Hawaii - so many of my friends tell me that it will be like I've died and gone to garden heaven! YEAH!!!

Well, I think the second Leucadendron is the Safari Sunset - it gets VERY red leaves during the bloom season. The first one has only the bloom tinged with red, but the leaves aren't red enough in my experience- there are so many cool leucs!

I didn't get enough of a look at the grevillea like plant to tell - but are those the leaves or a brushy flower? Because it could be an Adenanthos - a super cool Australian foliage plant.

Noel, Your new plants are breath-taking! I love seeing what you have available and are planting in your garden. I recently read an article in Garden Gate magazine called "Slugging it out with slugs." Here are their suggestions. Collect them in one place, drop them into a bucket of soapy water or squash underfoot. Here's how to collect/trap them.1) Oranges-Leave citrus halves or rinds near vulnerable plants, the slugs will usually head right over to investigate. Check your citrus traps once a day. Remove slugs and throw the spent rinds into the compost pile. 2)Boards Slugs retreat under mulch, rocks or boards during the day and are active at night. Place a board on the ground in a shady spot and check it in the afternoon, when they are enjoying their siesta under your board. 3) Diatomaceous earth is made up of crushed shells of fossilized diatoms and it is abrasive. It creates tiny cuts in the undersides of sluts and snails which kills them. Lightlysprinkle it under the dripline of the plants affected. Reapply after rain. Wear a dust mask and gloves when applying as you don't want those tiny abrasive particles in your lungs. Good luck, Noel.

What great buy, Noel! I have Protea cynaroides seeds but very less - am afraid of wasting it. From what I read, I'd need the ash primer to get it to germinate. Hope I find it soon and after seeing your bloom, I am longing to see mine germinate, grow, and bloom.

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Aloha

Living in East Hawaii on the Big Island, I am amazed by the multitude of new plant genera that I've started to discover and become addicted to. Come and explore with me in finding new amazing plants, discover the variegated and colorful, rare specimens, developing my garden, garden design, learning about sustainability and just doing the naughty things that a plant fanatic typically won't do in public :)

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